The Norwegian Labour Party greeted Jens Stoltenberg’s announcement with a standing ovation as he announced the measures at its annual congress yesterday. According to the PM, the measures have also received the backing of Norway’s three party ruling cabinet.

“Norway would be the first country in the world to take on such a concrete commitment,” he said. “The greenhouse effect… is our most dangerous environmental problem.”

Mr Stoltenberg went on to say that Norway, one of the world’s biggest exporters of oil, would reduce its carbon footprint by offsetting, buying carbon quotas and helping developing countries with renewable energy projects.

“This means that for every ton of greenhouse gases that is discharged we will make sure that the equivalent amount has to be reduced somewhere else,” he said.

Although Norway is a major exporter of oil, it currently meets most of its domestic electricity needs with hydroelectric power plants.

Mr Stoltenberg said that Norway would go beyond both the Kyoto agreement and targets set by the European Union, of which it is not a member, by cutting emissions by 30% by 2020.

He added that Norway wanted to act as an example to other nations. “Norway wants to be a driving force in seeking a new binding climate agreement.”